Marble bathroom flooring is one of the most popular choices for those looking to spruce up their bathrooms. It comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures to fit any style. However, it does have its drawbacks as well. Here are some pros and cons you should know about before deciding on marble bathroom flooring.
1. Pros of marble bathroom flooring
Marble bathroom flooring is highly durable and can withstand damage from water. In general, the grout between marble tiles is easy to clean with an ordinary washcloth or a brush; you’ll likely never need any more than that.
One of the most common complaints about marble tiles is that they don’t hold up well to liquids like water. But this isn’t really true – in fact, marble’s natural properties make it an excellent choice for wet environments because water doesn’t harm its finish or cause molding underneath the tile surface.
Highly durable, won’t scratch easily despite being such a soft material. In fact, it’s not at all as fragile and breakable as you may have been led to believe!
It is a great option for families who are concerned about the health of their water supply and want to avoid toxic substances like D.D.T., which may enter into the ground when you have your flooring installed on particleboard or another surface that can draw in these contaminants. It’s constructed with an integrated sealing system, so it’s easy to keep clean without any expensive carpet cleaner mechanisms.
2. Cons of marble bathroom flooring
There are a couple of cons to marble bathroom flooring.
On a purely aesthetic level, not everyone likes the look of marble floors in their bathrooms. Some find it too cold and clinical for that space. Others dislike how easy it is to get the floor dirty with shoes, soap suds, and bathwater.
The disadvantage with marble is that it is susceptible to stains and damage from a fall. The flooring may crack when it becomes damaged. It can also get slippery because of this surface material’s properties.
Furthermore, marble tends to heat up more than other surfaces do; whether or not this becomes an issue will depend on personal preference but there are those who have found the difference in heating potentially unsafe for elderly family members or children.
3. What to consider before installing marble bathroom flooring
When considering marble flooring, it’s important to select a material that is moisture resistant and will not stain. If the bathroom is small or has little natural light, we recommend selecting a darker color as it will create more contrast.
More importantly, consider the scale of your marble installation versus the size of your room. A single square or hexagonal tile is an appropriate choice for larger rooms (9 x 9 ft) while minimalistic flooring tiles work best in smaller bathrooms (less than 5 ft).
Cementitious grout should be used specifically for installations without water contact. Non-cementitious grout joints do not need to be sealed but must be cleaned at least every 3 months with a sealer suitable for marble surfaces.
4. Tips for selecting a quality set of stone tiles for your home’s bathrooms
It all starts with knowing your budget and then figuring out how much you can spend per square foot.
On the low end, tiles might come in at around 3-4 cents per sq ft; on the higher end, they can easily be 12 or 14 cents per sq ft. Often times you’ll need to buy more than just the tile for a project like this, so take care when looking at tile cost that it doesn’t turn into total sticker shock!
What kind of product do you need? You’ll absolutely want an adhesive of some kind – either a tile setting compound (glue) for installations not requiring grout lines or caulk-grout for those that will have grout lines. And don’t forget that you’ll need to buy a grout color that’s compatible with the floor tile.
The other option is adhesive-less tiles, which means you won’t have any adhesives or setting compounds and will only use caulk for grouting joints between tiles. These are very popular in kitchens because of their ease of installation; on the downside, they’re not as durable.
